Self-closing and self-opening hollow objects



June ,4, 1963 L. ERDELY 3,092,419

SELF-CLOSING AND SELF-OPENING HOLLOW OBJECTS Filed Sept. 16, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

Ladislas Era e151 BYM 3 y. a 1 Y I Q'flys United States Patent 9 3,02,419 SELF-CLOSING AND SELF-GPENING H-CPILLOW UBEECTS Ladislas Erdely, Paris, France, assignor to Pechiney, Qre

de Produits Chimiques et Eleetrometalinrgiques, Paris,

France Filed Sept. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 56,596 Claims priority, application France Sept. 18, 1959 11 Claims. (Cl. 3011) This invention relates to the automatic closing and opening of hollow objects and relates more particularly to oceanographic or stratospheric sounders embodying such opening and closing means.

For certain sounding operations, it may be desirable to bring about, at a specified depth below sea level, or at a specified altitude above sea level, the opening or closing of hollow objects. Such objects may, for eX- ample, constitute components of actual sounding apparatus and/ or the receptacles for same.

The invention is addressed to a method and means for effecting the movement of a part or parts of a hollow object between open and closed positions by the use of one or more elastic members, at least one of which is responsive to pressure conditions existing in the immediate surroundings to cause deformations or dimensional change.

In the preferred form of the practice of this invention, the movements of the part or parts are controlled by the action of two opposing forces preferably in the form of elastic components, one of which tends to displace the part or parts to open position and the other of which tends to displace the part or parts to closed position and at least one of which is responsive to variations in pressure automatically to effect such change in response to variations in the pressure conditions existing.

Hollow objects of the type embodying the features of this invention may find use as components in sounding, research, and/or prospecting devices and the like. For example, in an oceanographic sounder, to which a specific modification of this invention is addressed, it is desirable to embody a self-closing means for the components which operate to keep the sounder at the sub merged position, if the apparatus has to remain stationary on the sea bed for the duration of the measurement, or for the rolling or sliding components, if the sounder is intended to be moved over the sea bed during measurernents.

In this form of construction, the operative connection between the pressure responsive elastic members and the part or parts effecting opening and closing move-' ments will be such that the hollow object will become closed in response to increased pressure as the unit becomes submerged and is lowered toward the bottom of the sea and will return to open position in response to decrease in pressure conditions existing in the surroundings in which the hollow object is immersed.

This construction is particularly advantageous when applied to the wheels of a sounder intended to carry out continuous measurements while the sounder is moved over the sea bed, whether self-propelled or towed by means of a boat or the like. It is important, in such operation, that the hollow components be sealed against penetration by mud, silt or like matter stirred up by the movement of the sounder over the sea bed. Particularly with reference to the wheels, it is desirable to construct the wheels of sufficiently large dimension to maximize the surface contact with the sea bed during movement of the sounder thereover. It is desirable to provide an opening for access to enable the wheel to be filled by sea water to weigh the wheel down for the pur- 3,092,419 Patented June 4, .1963

pose of reaching the sea bed, yet it is undesirable to permit the wheels to become weighted down, impeded or even blocked by reason of copious penetration of mud, silt or other solid matter stirred up from the sea bed. On the other hand, it is also desirable for the wheels to reopen to enable escape of sea water and to lighten the load when the sounder is raised from the sea. Hollow wheels for an oceanographic sounder, fitted with the self-closing and opening device embodying the features of this invention, have the distinct advantage of closing before reaching a fixed depth thereby to become sealed against the penetration of mud and the like when the sounder is moved over the sea bed and of reopening when the apparatus is raised toward the surface to enable the apparatus to be hoisted from the water while empty, thereby greatly to facilitatethe handling of the sounder.

One important concept of this invention resides in the arrangement of the self-closing hollow bodies, and more particularly revolving bodies such as wheels, in the form of more or less symmetrical helf shells capable of movement together or apart into and out of a sealing relationship respectively responsive to actuation by an elastic component or components disposed therebetween.

In a preferred form of construction, a vapor proof chamber of elastic material, such as rubber, more or less filled with air or other gaseous medium, is selected as a pressure sensitive component. The variations in pressure encountered by the apparatus cause this chamber to expand and contract with changes in dimension due to such expansions and contractions causing the hollow object to open and close in response thereto.

It is an object of this invention to produce hollow objects and means embodied in same for effecting opening and closing movements of said hollow objects, and it is a related object to effect such movements automatically and accurately and reliably in a simple and efficient manner.

Another object is to produce hollow objects which are automatically actuated between open and closed positions, hereinafter referred to as self-closing and -open- 1mg?! These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, two embodiments of this invention will hereinafter be described in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of oneform of construction of a self-closing and opening hollow object embodying the features of this invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the wheel construction of an oceanographic sounder embodying the features of this invention.

In the two Versions used for illustration, the elastic component or components are arranged to be housed within the hollow object. It will be understood that the said component or components controlling the opening and closing movements could equally be located outside of the hollow object.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a hollow object consisting of two half shells 1 and 2 which may be of hemispherical shape and which fit together to give the desired sealing relationship for water or vapor tightness by pressure of the rim 3' of the one hemispherical section against a gasket 4 on the corresponding edge of the other hemispherical section to establish a sealing relationship therebetween. The two half shells 1 and 2 are linked at hinge 5 for rocking movement between open and closed (water tight position) and each shell is provided with eyelets '6 and 7 preferably aligned on the diameter which is perpendicular to the plane of the closure of the two. hemispheres, or along the equator intercepting the two hemispheres.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 1, the elastic component consists of a gas-tight receptacle, one wall of which is cap-able of expansion and contraction responsive to changes in pressure as between the interior and the exterior of the receptacle. Normally, the elastic component will be in the form of an elongate receptacle of more or less cylindrical shape having the end walls 8 and 9 formed of rigid material while the wall 10 forming the cylindrical side wall is expansible, such as may be formed of thin metail with longiutdinally spaced-apart circumferential corrugations. The end pieces 8 and 9 are connected by rods 11 and 12 to the eyelets 6 and 7 for transmission of movement of the end walls to the half shells responsive to expansion and contraction of the receptacle. In operation, increase in pressure in the area withinthe hollow object but outside of the receptacle will cause compression of the gases or vapors within the receptacle with corresponding contraction thereof to displace the end wals in the direction towards each other, thereby to rock the half shells in the direction towards each other to sealing position. Similarly, drop in pressure outside of the receptacle will result in expansion for displacement of the end walls in the direction away to close at the desired depth. The chamber is inflated by an amount calculated to overcome, as closely as possible, the effect of the springs under the pressure of the atmosphere (opening) thus enabling such chamber to be deformed in the desired manner when there is an increase in the stress caused by a higher ambient pressure (closure).

As soon as the device returns to the surface, the aforementioned additional stress due to increased pressure is eliminated. The tube returns to its initial inflation pressure to cause displacement of the arcuate cradles in the direction away from each other with corresponding displacement of the hubs on the axle 14 to cause opening water.

from each other to rock the shells toward open position.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred form of construction in applications wherein the hollow object is of large dimension and forms the wheel of a sounding device intended to be moved over the bed of the sea.

The wheel is composed of two half shells 29 and 30, more or less of cylindrical shape, each of which is mounted on a tubular hub 31 and 3-2 mounted for free revolving movement about an axle 14 and shiftable axially thereon between open and closed positions. The hubs and the corresponding half shells are constantly urged in the direction towards eachother to effect a sealing relationship, as will hereafter be described, by any normal type of self-returning device such as the springs 15 and 16, articulated at 17. These springs, or other resilient means, operate to cause the rim 18 of one of the shells to move in the direction towards the other half shell to bring the rim 18 into sealing engagement with a gasket 19 on the periphery of the other half shell to define a sealed wheel therebetween.

FIG. 2 shows two arcuate cradles 20* and 21 mounted one inside each half shell, such as by means of radial arms 22 and 23. The two arcuate cradles, being placed opposite each other, define a circular section therebetween, which envelopes a more or less toroid space containing an elastic reservoir 26 which is filled with a compressible fluid to form a barometric chamber. In the form of construction shown, the elastic reservoir comprises an inner tube of a motor tire mounted between the cradles, the valve being connected by a tube 24 to an inflating nozzle 25 on the outside of the wheel.

When the tube 26 is inflated to the empirically required pressure, the two arcuate cradles 20 and 21 are displaced in the direction away from each other to efiect corresponding displacement of the hubs to separate the two half shells 29 and 30 to open position. When the apparatus is submerged, the wheel or wheels constructed in accordance with this invention become immediately filled with water. As the apparatus is submerged to increase the water head, the pressure of the water at a certain depth operates to reduce thevolume of the tube 26 sufficiently to free the hubs for movement in the direction towards each other, thereby to enable the two half shells to close in response to the action of the resilient springs 15 and 16.

The wheels constructed in accordance with this invention can move over the sea bed without the risk of collecting any mud, silt or the like, accumulations of which in the lower part of the wheel might hinder its operation.

The volume and the inflation pressure of the barometric chamber are chosen empirically so as to cause the wheels It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a simple and effective means operated automatically to effect opening and closing movements of hollow objects responsive immediately to the pressure conditions to which it is exposed. It will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction arrangement and operation, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A wheel comprising an axle, separate hub members rotatably mounted on the axle for axial displacement in the direction toward and away from each other between closed and open positons respectively, wheel halfshells fixed on said separate hubs for movement therewith to form a closed Wheel when in closed position and an open wheel for access to the interior thereof when in open position, an elastic member which is subject to dimensional change responsive to change in pressure to which the wheel is exposed, means in position operatively to be engaged by said elastic member for displacement toward and away from said elastic member upon change in dimension of said elastic member responsive to changes in pressure to which the wheel is exposed, and an operative connection between said means and said wheel halfshells whereby the shells are displaced between open and closed positions responsive to changes in dimension of said elastic member.

2. A wheel comprising an axle, separate hubs rotatably mounted on the axle and displaceable thereon in an axial direction toward and away from each other between closed and open positions respectively, wheel halfshells fixed to said separate hubs for movement therewith to form a closed wheel when in closed position and an open wheel for access to the interior thereof when in open position, an elastic member mounted within said half-shells, and cradles positioned operatively to be engaged by said elastic member for displacement toward and away from said elastic member upon change in dimension of said elastic member responsive to changes in pressure to which the wheel is exposed, an operative connection between said cradles and said wheel shells whereby the shells are displaced between open and closed positions responsive to changes in dimension of said elastic member. l l

3. A wheel as claimed in claim 2 in which the cradles constitute separate members disposed on opposite sides of said elastic member and in which the cradles are operatively connected with the hubs.

4. A wheel as claimed in claim 2 in which the cradles are positioned alongside the elastic member for displacement of the cradles in one direction responsive to increase in the dimension of said elastic members and for the release of said cradles responsive to decrease in dimension of said elastic members and which includes resilient means constantly urging said half-shells in the opposite direction.

5. A wheel as claimed in claim 4 in which the resilient means comprises a spring member and which includes an operative connection between said spring member and said hubs constantly to urge the hubs in a direction toward each other to closed position.

6. A wheel as claimed in claim 1 which includes means on the ends of said half-shells for effecting a sealing relationship therebetween when in closed position.

7. An object of the type described comprising a pair of side walls adapted to define and to completely enclose a hollow space within their opposed inner faces, means pivotally connecting said side walls at one end thereof, means for shifting said side walls from an open position to a closed position, said hollow space being defined when the side walls are in the closed position, sealing means disposed at the end of the side walls opposite the pivotal connection, said sealing means sealing said object when the side Walls are in the closed position, said means for shifting the side walls including elastic means disposed between the inner faces of the side Walls and being operatively connected to said inner faces whereby the elastic means are confined within said hollow space when said side walls are in the closed position, said elastic means including an elastic member which is subject to change in dimension responsive to change in pressure conditions to which the interior of the object is exposed, the operative connection between said elastic means and said inner faces operating whereby said parts are automatically and directly displaced between open and closed 6 positions responsive to changes in dimensions of said elastic members.

8. A hollow object as claimed in claim 7 wherein said side walls comprise two half-shells.

9. A hollow object as claimed in claim 7 which includes resilient means disposed internally of said object constantly urging the side walls toward one position and in which the elastic member operates positively to displace the side walls to the other position in response to exposure to pressure beyond a predetermined level.

10. A hollow object as claimed in claim 9 in which the elastic member is operatively connected to said side walls for displacement to open position and in which the resilient means is operatively connected to displace the side walls towards closed position when the forces of the elastic member are relieved sufiiciently to enable the resilient member to become efiective.

11. A hollow object as claimed in claim 9 in which the resilient member comprises a spring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,314,372 Spflhaus Mar. 23, 1943 2,722,881 Sutterfield et a1 Nov. 8, 1955 2,751,959 Bloomquist June 26, 1956 2,793,589 Atchley May 28, 1957 2,894,394 Quist July 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,334 Finland Mar. 12, 1948 

1. A WHEEL COMPRISING AN AXLE, SEPARATE HUB MEMBERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE AXLE FOR AXIAL DISPLACEMENT IN THE DIRECTION TOWARD AND AWAY FORM EACH OTHER BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, WHEEL HALFSHELLS FIXED ON SAID SEPARATE HUBS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH TO FORM A CLOSED WHEEL WHEN IN CLOSED POSITION AND AN OPEN WHEEL FOR ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR THEREOF WHEN IN OPEN POSITION, AN ELASTIC MEMBER WHICH IS SUBJECT TO DIMENSIONAL CHANGE RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE IN PRESSURE TO WHICH THE WHEEL IS EXPOSED, MEANS IN POSITION OPERATIVELY TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID ELASTIC MEMBER FOR DISPLACEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ELASTIC MEMBER UPON CHANGE IN DIMENSION OF SAID ELASTIC MEMBER RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES IN PRESSURE TO WHICH THE WHEEL IS EXPOSED, AND AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID MEANS AND SAID WHEEL HALFSHELLS WHEREBY THE SHELLS ARE DISPLACED BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES IN DIMENSION OF SAID ELASTIC MEMBER. 